A simple meal served with a simple green salad and bread, but the flavors are anything but simple! The eggs were laid this morning by our ladies and the freshness makes for perfect poaching. If only our spring peas were ready for harvest!

This is our family’s variation, but “Homestyle Portuguese Cooking” offers another recipe on p.157. The recipe is very forgiving: If you like more sausage, add more sausage! If you want some other vegetables, add them to the poaching liquid! Don’t like peas, don’t use them!

Molho de Ovos

1 Tbsp Olive Oil

1 small onion, finely chopped

1/4 tsp sea salt or to taste (Remember that the chouriço will be quite salty)

1 clove garlic, finely chopped

6″ piece of chouriço, halved and sliced into 1/2 chunks. You can substitute linguinça or chorizo or even Italian sausage, but it will have a different flavor.

1/2 tsp paprika or smoked Spanish paprika, depending on what flavor you prefer

1 bay leaf

1 cup wine (I used red today because it’s what was already open, but I prefer white)

Saute onion and salt in olive oil until soft. Add garlic and chourico and cook until browned. Add paprika, bay leaf, wine, and peas. Let simmer uncovered for 5-10 minutes. If too much liquid has evaporated add some water enough to poach the eggs. Crack eggs into a separate dish and then gently place them in broth. Poach for 3-8 minutes, depending on how done you want them.